Young excellence, promotion battles, and a happy farewell: The Australian team of the week from players around the globe
Even though St.Pauli ultimately lost a high-scoring affair, Jackson Irvine was a standout, as well as scoring a late goal.
It’s one versus two tonight when Central Coast Mariners host Adelaide United at Bluetongue Stadium. We’ll have live scores from the kick-off at 7.30pm AEDT.
Six weeks ago it seemed almost certain that these two sides, who have led the A-League virtually all season, would sit atop the A-League ladder at the end of the season.
But some indifferent form over the past month, coupled with form surges from Melbourne Victory and Western Sydney Wanderers, has cast doubt over the makeup of the top two.
Central Coast come into this one having drawn their past two matches, including a 0-0 stalemate in the F3 derby last weekend.
The loss of Tom Rogic and the likely loss of Bernie Ibini has been felt already, and whether Graham Arnold can find a way to plug the considerable gaps left by the two will go a long way to shaping the Mariners’ season.
But are Adelaide in the form to be able to overturn the league-leading Mariners at home?
Two wins and a draw from their past five matches, the most recent of which was a lifeless 2-0 loss away to Melbourne Heart last Friday night, indicates that John Kosmina’s men might not have the quality to procure a win tonight.
Both teams will come into this game motivated after a lean period, and we could see the points shared tonight.